Scotland's women going for glory in Gothenburg as they target a place at the women's World Cup

Scotland's Kim Little: "There’s no reason to go into the game with any negative thoughts." (Image: Jeff Holmes/PA Wire)

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KIM LITTLE says Scotland’s women can beat Sweden in Gothenburg tonight and sneak into the World Cup finals without the hassle of a play-off.

This is the last group qualifying match against a team ranked third in Europe and fifth in the world.

But if the Scots win by more than the 3-1 defeat the Swedes inflicted on them at Motherwell in June, they will go straight through.

Scotland have won eight of nine qualifiers to sit three points behind Sweden in Group Four, while their hosts have conceded just one goal – Little’s penalty at Fir Park – in an otherwise perfect campaign.

United States-based Little, recently voted the most valuable player in the National Women’s Soccer League, will play a key role for the visitors.

She said: “Sweden are ranked above us but there’s no reason to go into the game with any negative thoughts.”

Little won her 100th cap in the 9-0 win over the Faroe Islands on Saturday, a game in which she scored the opening goal and striker Jane Ross fired her third hat-trick of the campaign.

She added: “It’s vital we play a balanced game here. We don’t have much to lose, we’re already in the play-offs at least.”